It's at the western coast of Table Mountain NP - Cape of Good Hoop section, more specifically Gifkommetjie. It's a beautiful place, sees few visitors (most people rush to cape point, take in the view for a second, rush to the cape of good hope, take in the view for a second and rush back to either Boulders beach or Chapman's Peak, depending on how they started the day ) and you can do some fantastic hikes from the parking space!

As you no doubt know, the seas around the Cape Peninsula are where the cold Benguela and the warm Atlantic currents meet and mix. I have a clear memory of going to Cape Point one time, and looking out and seeing the thermocline in the ocean - a definite white line stretching into the sea, and marking where the currents met.

For me, it was a very special sighting. I have no idea how common this is - certainly I've been to Cape Point often, and have only seen it once. Have other forumites seen it?

Of course, the difficulty may be recognising what you see - I was lucky to have an expert with me at the time, or I wouldn't have had a clue!

Thanks, Katja!! And you can clearly see all the shelving/reefs off of the Cape of Good Hope that causes (some of) the disturbed waters offshore. Some of the whitecaps are also caused by winds, but this is a notoriously dangerous area for shipping and any vessels, which all wisely stay well off shore

I think that this turmoil in question is "Bellow's Rock"? And it is indeed one of the many dangerous rocky out-crops that occur off Cape Point!

Another famous submerged rock is Whittle Rock in False Bay. Sailors can be warned of this dangerous rock as it's location can be found by lining up the two crosses in Cape Point (Dias and Da Gama), and then by another above the Simonstown golf course.
This is also why the white Dias Cross is painted black on it's eastern side, so it is visible to sailors against the blue sky background.

leopardspotter wrote:I climbed up Table Mountain last weekend, it took me 3 and a halve hours to get to the top. I went the rought travelling just below the cable car. It takes about 3-4 hours, if you take a slow relaxing walk with a few rest breaks in the middle.

If you are looking for a different hike to do, one I used to do a lot is the Platteklip Gorge. It is quite a steep hike, but is not too strenuous. It takes about 1.5hrs, depending on how fast you go. This is a nice one to do, if you are planning to take the cable car down, as you need to walk along most of the mountain to get to the cable car from the end point of this hike.

When we were there in may, we chose to walk down. (the cable car was operational) This was quite a long and strenuous endeavour. We are quite young (33 and 43 ) but not particularly fit. It took us almost 4 hours to go down the quite steep steps from upper station to lower station and we arrived exhausted. If you go from the upper station to the road below and then along the road to the lower station (car park) it is probably quite a bit shorter in time.
You would have to go up and down on foot since the cable car is not operating. Unless you are very fit, I not sure this is advisable. That is a lot of hiking on one day and quite steep!!!!!
Maybe other forumites have done this and can advise better.
Technically you can go up and on foot, no problem, but if you are not regular hikers you will be absolutely exhausted and may regret it very much. Just going by foot in one direction (up or down) is a great compromise but you don't unfortunately have that option.
Maybe you could do Signal Hill or Lion's Head instead.
Anyway have fun and tell us how your trip went!
Graeme

Sallyanna
Have you considered a helicopter ride.
They start and finish at the V&A Waterfront.
There are different flights or varying length. I think they all fly over Table Mountain giving you a fantastic view.
They are not cheap but without doubt worth doing particularly as the cablle cars are not running.
regards
JDW

Take a trip up Signal HIll - the view is awesome.
Ive just been up - a few weeks ago- after many many years (>20) and found it fantastic. There are trails leading from the picnic area/parking area (middle pic) that will give you almost 360 degree view. Check out the Hop on Hop Off bus trip - it might take you to Signal Hill otherwise take a taxi and then walk down.
Have a great time.

Sallyanna I had a quick look the Bus does not go up Signal Hill

Last edited by KampRunner on Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:38 am, edited 1 time in total.

I just found some pictures I took of the sunset around table mountain.

I think its one of the most photogenic places in the world, I can sit and watch it for hours,(or at least till it gets dark)

and one from december 2007

Also it gave me an excuss to practise uploading some pictures. When we was there in Febuary this year we noticed more patrols than before, and there seemed to be less reports in the papers than before. Maybe things are changing?